Exail, a global leader in simulation and training technologies, has announced a strategic partnership with Babcock France for the French Ministry of the Armed Forces’ Mentor 2 program. Awarded through the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the 17-year contract aims to modernize and enhance pilot training for the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy.
As part of this long-term program, Exail will supply state-of-the-art mixed-reality flight simulators tailored for the Pilatus PC-7 MKX aircraft, which is being introduced as the new standard training platform. These advanced simulation systems are designed to meet the DGA’s stringent technical and pedagogical requirements and are intended to significantly elevate the realism, safety, and effectiveness of pilot training.
The simulator suite includes several interconnected flight training devices equipped with extended reality (XR) headsets, intuitive touchscreens, and high-fidelity simulation software. A dedicated ejection training simulator will also be delivered to enhance emergency procedure readiness. These immersive and modular systems combine tactile open-cockpit layouts with customizable training scenarios, offering a unique, autonomous learning environment for military pilots.
This capability represents a first in France for military training in a mixed-reality environment, and aligns with the Mentor 2 program’s goals of creating a more flexible, immersive, and efficient training pipeline. Through its next-generation simulation technologies, Exail will play a key role in accelerating skill acquisition, improving mission readiness, and supporting the operational effectiveness of French aircrews.
